Skinks

Rebecca · 01-31-03, 08:17 PM

What do your skinks eat?? Mine's still small so I've been trying mealworms and crickets, but it's not interested in them. Any ideas??

silke · 01-31-03, 09:26 PM

what kinda skinks are they?
try some fruity baby food
you may get some suggestions to try good quality cat food
you can try shredded squash or carrots
papaya is also good with a great calcium to phosphorous ratio

Linds · 01-31-03, 10:10 PM

What kind of skinks???

Rebecca · 01-31-03, 10:43 PM

Orange throated skink. I believe that their also called a gold skink.

Linds · 01-31-03, 10:59 PM

I'm unfamiliar with those... do you have a pic? Sorry I cannot be of more help

Rebecca · 02-01-03, 12:52 PM

I doubt a pic will help. Out of Mamma.com, Askjeeves.com and Google.com I only got like 2 useful links. There were other links about them but not about what they eat or anything like that. Is there anything else that basicly all of most skinks will eat?? I'm kinda at a loss on this. It ate crickets at the store but not here?? So what else do you guys do??

silke · 02-01-03, 02:12 PM

hmmmm
i have an african mabuya skink (small, about 4 inches SVL) golden beige in colour with peachy sides but the side of her face has black and white spotted markings
she strictly eats insects (had her for 3 years) i keep trying fruits and veggies every now any then but so far nada (papaya, prickly pear, peach bb food, shredded carrot, squash)
i have her in a 20 gal long tank with sand on one side with a rock and basking spot and mulch, moss, cork bark and coconut hut on the other side
since she is a basker i also have a UVB bulb
she eats mealies from a dish and loves chasing crix around when i dump them in (calcium dusted are easier to find too)
cool temp is 70-75 and hot basking area is 100
she is active and runs around a lot - diurnal

how long have you had yours? she may just be settling in after the 'move'
make sure yours has plenty of hides as i suspect this is a particularly shy species
if you keep mealies in a dish 24/7 she will probably come around and eat when she is ready to
hope this helps

Katatonic · 02-02-03, 02:27 AM

All the conventional feeder insects: Crickets, mealworms (which you said didn't work), waxworms... Try some smaller waxworms, you may possibly have luck with those. I know this "Orange-throated" skink is rather small, from your previous posts, but you could try some of the "Can-o-Snails", but you would have to mince them in order for them to be eaten by your little guy... I know a vast array of skinks love snails and slugs. It's merely a suggestion of mine. Remember to keep the little guy warm too eh... From what I've been able to find, you should have a fairly warm "hot spot". Good luck.
LATER

Rebecca · 02-02-03, 01:49 PM

Ya I have a basking spot for it. So far it's not used it but it will. I never thought of can-o-snails. Sounds gross!! Thanks for the help!

Katatonic · 02-03-03, 11:59 PM

LOL, yea, the can-o-snails isn't the most pleasant of dishes... But hey, it could work. A word of advice... Don't stick your nose over the jar when you open it, and try to avoid spilling the "juice" on anything.
': D
Enjoy.
LATER.

silke · 02-04-03, 03:39 PM

yeah...i bought a can o crickets once and the smell was NASTY
none of my insectivors would touch em but my hermit crabs Loved them

Just Me · 02-04-03, 06:00 PM

I have a care sheet for ocellated skinks and it says they will take "soft fruit".
Does it count if you MAKE it soft? lol.
*this is stupid* I know apples aren't soft, but is it okay if I mash a bit up for my skink?

--Just Me--

Just Me · 02-04-03, 09:59 PM

Okay, I tried mushy banana and mushy apple... nothing. lol. Maybe he's just picky.

Katatonic · 02-04-03, 11:16 PM

Just try to think of what fruits would be native to your particular skinks' homelands and offer those types of fruit... Perhaps you'd even have to let it begin to ferment in order for them to gain interest. Because if you think of it, most skinks are ground dwellers, and would rarely see that beautifully peeled and sliced mango or banana laid out on a dish for them in the wild. Soft, mushy fruits may perhaps be easier for the smaller species of skinks to eat.
Good luck ladies and gents.
LATER.

Rebecca · 02-05-03, 01:10 AM

How do you find out what type of fruit to feed it when your not even sure of the species?? I think I have it eating crickets now. I guess it just needed to settle in more. Thank you all for the help!!